Ward councillor among those arrested over Karkar murder, arson

A WARD councillor and several men have been arrested over murder and arson at Madang’s Karkar Island two weeks ago.
Madang police commander Supt Mazuc Rubiang said the suspects were in custody and Criminal Investigating Division officers were investigating them. He said the ward councillor and his four clan members were charged with perverting the course of justice while the others were under investigation.
He said it was claimed that the councillor and his men were not cooperating with police when they went to attend the incident of arson and murder on the island.
“I was expecting leaders to be neutral to work with police to fight crime at their respective wards but some are not,” he said.
Supt Rubiang said five more suspects were arrested by police deployed to Karkar to address law and order on the island.
He said, so far, 20 people were arrested for murder and arson on the island and were in police custody. They were being investigated.
He thanked the officers, saying the situation was under control.